Montblanc 1858 Collection: A Collection Of Style And Watchmaking at it's very best

For a brand that started out as a fine writing instrument company, Montblanc is finely writing the pages of its legacy, and we love to see it. From making writing instruments, they have branched out to the manufacture of leather goods, jewelry, exquisite timepieces, and much more.

The brains behind this brand are the Richemont group, a group based out of the harbor city of Hamburg. Founded in 1906 as Simplizissiumus-Füllhalter in Berlin, the group adopted the Montblanc name in 1934 after using several prior names and has ridden with it since. They have gone on to own massive watchmaking industries in Switzerland and are also the owners of the famous Minerva factory in Villeret, a municipality in west-central Switzerland.

Montblanc 1858 Manual Small Second 112638 & Montblanc 1858 117833 with Gold Bezel

In their close to 100 years of existence, they have gone on to release watches under the emblem of famous collections, including the likes of the Heritage, the Montblanc 1858, and the Star Legacy lines. Today's article will focus on the Montblanc 1858, and we will be highlighting a number of stellar watches in that collection, the history behind those watches, and keynotes on their caliber alongside other features of these timepieces that make them stand out.

1. The Montblanc 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow LE88

The newest kid on the block and one that we consider a worthy entrant to the collection, the Moonpusher chronograph brings to us fine watchmaking by Montblanc and at the same time, a vintage look reminiscent of the timepieces worn by pilots in the 1930s.

A limited edition with only 88 pieces created, this watch aims to balance the old and the new perfectly. The 20th-century theme is well in play here with its Large Arabic numerals, luminous hands, and contrasting dials, but when you look at the bezel, and you see a fluted rotating bezel in 18k white gold, then you see a watch that's adapting early on for the future.

Montblanc 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow LE88, the Calibre MB M13.21 movement

This watch is powered by the hand-wound Calibre MB M13.21 split-second chronograph and has a frequency of 2.5Hz. It comes with a power reserve of up to 60 hours, has a diameter case of 42mm, and is priced at USD 29,500.

2. Montblanc 1858 Manual Small Second 112638

We at Strapcode are lovers of charming timepieces, and this is one of those selected ones. Inspired by a watch many consider to be a vintage classic-the Minerva Pythagore Caliber 48, this watch's way of being soft-spoken but still flamboyant in character at the same time often leaves the best of watch enthusiasts week-kneed in awe.

Montblanc 1858 Manual Small Second 112638 has a very sophisticated look with Hybrid Sailcloth FKM Rubber Sports Watch Strap.

We see this watch comes in a black dial version that feels and appears tender, with a self-effacing matte surface that gives the impression of wanting the other details of the dial to shine. And then we see the watch in a blue dial version that appears as one that just wants to show off. The combination of shimmering lines and sunray motifs makes it feel like the proud peacock in the room.

A Orange Canvas watch band added a touch of chic charm to the Montblanc 1858 Manual Small Second 112638

This watch is powered by the hand-wound Calibre MB 23.03 and with this beauty comes an efficient movement that tanks 46 hours in its power reserve, a frequency of 3 hertz, and is adorned with 17 jewels. It is priced at around USD 3,000.

3. Montblanc 1858 117833 with Gold Bezel

Vintage rooted but yet sporty in appearance, this watch might be the entry-level piece of the collection, but it has everything required of a crowd-pleaser with the way it looks. A vintage dial, a military outlook, and the strap options this Timepiece offers earns it style points from us. Whether you want a high-quality fabric strap or a plain but excellent strap to go alongside it, we got you covered at Strapcode.

22mm Gunny X MT '74' Light Brown Handmade Quick Release Reversible Bund Leather Strap also astounding the watch

The champagne dial variant of this watch has a lot to like about it. From a dandy outlook to a starburst finish down to the cognac-colored strap option it offers, we consider this variant of the Montblanc 1858 a real winner and we believe the pricing at around €2500 is Montblanc getting their valuation just right.

22mm Military Green watch band your Montblanc 1858 watch anytime, anywhere

4. The Montblanc 1858 Geosphere

We won't be wrong if we consider this the face of the collection but that would be an opinion-based statement. One thing that is for sure a fact is that this is the boldest watch in the collection, and the features of this Timepiece back that statement up. A combination of a simple dual time zone display and a complementary array of world time displays mean this is your best bet amongst the watches in the collection when going on a globe-trotting adventure.

If you aren't taken aback by busy watches, then this should easily catch your fancy. It is lightweight, comes in a 42mm titanium case adorned with strings of rice bracelet in stainless steel and titanium, and its smoke blue dial is enough to captivate you and keep you so.

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition - 1858 pieces

Its link to globe-trotting and mountaineering is valid based on the features of its case back. On its case back, you see an insignia of the Mont Blanc Mountain flanked by two ice axes and a compass. On the hemisphere sub-dials, you also see several dots on both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. We are fans of the Caliber MB29.25, and when we saw that Montblanc chose to price this watch at 6,000 dollars, we can't fault that valuation- it's worth it.

Conclusion

We were able to cover four watches today (maybe we will do more later on), but one thing we can say is that the other watches in this collection equally reek of quality, finesse, and excellent finishing. Watches like the Montblanc 1858 Chronograph tachymeter get a shout-out from us as that is a luxurious watch that Montblanc managed to make look so sporty at the same time. We like elegance, and Montblanc exemplifies that both in their story and also in their watches.

External References

Montblanc - 1858 Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow

Written by Victor, images by Toni and others as noted